The Belleville Senators dropped their second straight game on Wednesday night, despite firing almost 40 shots at the opposition net, as the Manitoba Moose squeaked out a 2-1 win at CAA Arena.
The reigning AHL Player of the Week Mikhail Berdin stopped all but one of the 39 shots he faced and helped the Moose extend their win streak to seven games.
Belleville Captain Jordan Szwarz had the only goal for the Senators.
Manitoba set the tone early, pressuring the Senators defence, crashing the net and scored the game’s first goal at 3:11.
Nathan Todd, on loan to Manitoba from the Senators’ ECHL affiliate in Brampton, went hard to the net and buried a rebound, off a Nelson Nogier shot, past Marcus Hogberg for his first career AHL goal.
Todd was in training camp with the Senators and played for Ottawa in the NHL Rookie Showcase in Belleville this past September as well.
Then at 14:55, Jansen Harkins won an offensive zone draw in the far circle and Emile Poirier wired his third goal of the season by Hogberg.
The assist extended Harkins’ league-leading point streak to 10 games.
Belleville would muster 12 shots in the period but couldn’t get on the board.
The Senators had the bulk of the offensive chances in the second period as well, outshooting Manitoba 6-0 through the first 10:00 and 13-7 in the frame, but Berdin continued his solid play in the Moose goal.
Hogberg had to fend off a handful of chances himself, in the mid-stages of the period, including a breakaway by J.C. Lipon, after Max Lajoie tripped at the offensive blue line on a Senators’ power play, but he was perfect in the period as well.
Belleville Senators forwards Drake Batherson and Rudolfs Balcers set up in front of Manitoba Moose goaltender Mikhail Berdin, during a game at CAA Arena, on November 20, 2019. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
The Senators cut the lead to 2-1 with a key early goal inside the first minute of the third.
A shot into the slot, from the right point deflected off a Manitoba skate, then off the stick of Szwarz, catching Berdin going the wrong way.
Rudolfs Balcers earned an assist to pick up another point, his third in as may games and Christian Jaros was credited with the other assist.
Belleville had another chance to get even on a late power play, after Sami Niku shoved Jonathan Aspirot into the boards from behind, but Drake Batherson hit the cross bar and Josh Norris took a penalty for interference, to end the advantage.
The B-Sens would pepper Berdin with another 14 shots in the third but couldn’t get even.
Senators coach Troy Mann says his team deserved a better result and “it’s tough to be disappointed” with how his team played.
Belleville’s blue line has been decimated by injuries, with four regular defencemen out of the lineup, but Mann gave credit to his depleted defence core and says his less experienced blueliners stepped up as well.
The B-Sens hit the road this weekend on a trip to Binghamton (New Jersey Devils) on Friday night and Lehigh Valley on Saturday.
800 AM CJBQ has full coverage of both games, with both broadcasts starting at 6:50 p.m., for Eastern Overhead Doors and Deerhaven Farm and Garden.
You can click here to see the box score from Wednesday night and see highlights from the game below.
